Advocata's Aneetha Warusavitarana Awarded Commonwealth Scholarship

Originally appeared on The Morning, Daily FT, Daily Mirror

Aneetha Warusavitarana secures a place at Cambridge University.

Aneetha Warusavitarana, Research Manager,  from Colombo based independent policy think-tank Avocata Institute has been awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.  Aneetha is set to start on her MPhil in Public Policy at the University of Cambridge this year. 

Aneetha Warusavitarana played an important role in driving numerous research projects aimed at promoting sound public policy ideas for a freer and more prosperous Sri Lanka at the Advocata Institute.  Her work in Sri Lanka’s public policy space consists of driving advocacy campaigns and research on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise reform, Period Poverty, Trade Liberalisation and State-Owned Enterprise Reform in Sri Lanka to name a few. Aneetha is a product of Ladies’ College Colombo and the University of London International Programmes, where she graduated with a first class in  International Development. 

Dhananath Fernando, Chief Operating Officer of the Advocata Institute said, “Aneetha played a significant role in Advocata Institute's growth as a public policy think tank. Her accomplishments include delivering and maintaining a high standard of research, while also providing thought leadership on a range of public policy issues”.   As an independent public policy think-tank, the Advocata Institute will continue to work and nourish such talent and leadership. Therefore Aneetha would also be joining the Advocata Institute as a Visiting fellow and would continue to contribute to our work. The Advocata Institute wishes her the best in all her future endeavours.


Advocata is an independent policy think tank based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. We conduct research, provide commentary and hold events to promote sound policy ideas compatible with a free society in Sri Lanka. Visit advocata.org for more information.